Pipe-cutting apparatus



Oct l', 1946. P. A. HOWARD y PIPE CUTTING APPARATUS l Filedl Sept. 4,1943 i2 Z6 INVENTOR.Z l

P05551?. Howard.

ATTORNEYS.

,Oct l, 1946.r p, A 'HOWARD 2,408,517

PIPE CUTTING APPARTUS Filed sept. 4, 1943.A 2 sheets-sheet 2 l /00 95,0g I

ATTORNEYS.

Patented Oct. 1, 1946 UNITED STATE Posy A. Howard, Tulsa, n to 1 Tulsa,Okla.

C. A. Mathey and o Okla., assignor of one-half nc-'half to C. B. Harter,

`Application September 4, 1943, Serial No. 501,271

1 I This invention relates to pipe cutting apparatus and moreparticularly to a pipe cutting apparatus for effecting selected cuts inthe wall of a pipe, and has for its principal object to vprovide forsupporting a cutting device for circumferential movement about theperiphery of a pipe While controlling longitudinal movement of saidycutting device relative 19e-said pipe.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a longitudinallyreciprccable cutting device mounting on guidesv rotatable around a pipeto beA cut;- to provide for controlling longitudinal movement of saidcuttingV device for effecting selected cuts in the pipe; to provide aguide for moving a cutting torch longitudinally of the pipe duringcircumferential movement `of said torch about the pipe for effectingcuts in said pipe in the shape of said guide; to provide. for moving acutting torch relative to a pipe to be cut for cutting shapes such Vassaddles, degrees, et cetera, in the nature of fabricating pipe; tprovider a templet for the desiredfcutaround the pipe having ra guidefor engagement by a follower 'mechanism controlling movement ofthe'torch; to provide vfor holding the templet in fixed relation to thepipe;V

to provide for ready application and adjustment of apparatus of thischaracter to a pipe; to provide for accurately supporting .the .torchfor planetary movement vabout the pipe;jtor provide an apparatus. ofthis character readily adapted for mounting on various to provide aconvenient, economical and eflicient pipe cutting apparatus of thecharacter and for the purpose noted.

. In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, 1I haveprovided improved details of structure, the preferred form of'which isillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein: Fig. l isaperspective view of a pipe cutting apparatus embodying the features ofthe present invention. f

. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a pipe cutting apparatus particularlyshowing the engagement of the` followerY with the templet forcontrolling movement of the torch.

Fig.'3 is a plan view of a pipe cutting apparatus, portions of the torchmounting guidebeing v broken away to better illustrate the mechanismyfor controlling longitudinal movement of the torch relatively to thepipe.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail section through the torch mounting guide onthe line 4-4, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail section through the `torch mounting guideon the line 5-5, Fig. k3.

diameters of pipe and Y I5 atjone side of the connected by means ing thefeatures ci '2 Claims. (Cl. 33-21) 6 is an end elevation ofthepipecutting apparatus.v y v Fig. '1 is a detail perspectiveviewof oneform of templet for controlling longitudinal movement of the torch, saidtemplet being for saddle kcuts or the like. l Fig. 8 is an enlargeddetail section through the ring gear and shank members on the line 8-78,Fig. 6. 1 v f Referring more in detail to the drawings: v I designates apipe ycutting apparatus embodythe present invention and which includes asaddle member 2 adapted to engage over theupper portion of a pipe 3 forsupporting a cutting torch 4 for planetary movement about said pipe. Thesaddle member 2 includes a semi-cylindrical body 5 having laterallyextending end flanges 6 and 1 connected by longitudinal ribs 8, 9 and I0on the respective sides of openings I I for lightening the weight of thecasting and facilitating its application to the pipe.

In order to support the saddle on the pipe, the body portion carriesfeet I2 for spacing the axis of thesaddle concentrically 'with the axisof the pipe, said feet preferably being adjustable to adapt the sadle tont various diameters of pipe. Y Depending from the side ribs 8 .and ID,adjacent the endsthereof, are pairs of spaced ears I3 land I4, vcarryingcross pins I5 for securing the ends'of flexible retaining members orcinches I8 and I1,

which engage underthe pipes to which the saddle is applied,saidfretaining members preferably including chain sections AI8 connectedtol the pins saddle and their other ends of coil springs I9 and togglelevers 2%. The springs accommodatethe length of the'exible members todiierent diameters of pipe and the toggle levers stretchvthe springs toretain the retaining'members in engagement` with the pins I5. y

Fixed to the end of the end'ange 1 of the saddle is a segmental ring 2|,having an annular inset shoulder 22 to forman annular seat 23 and aradial flange 24 which cooperates with anfin- Wardly extending flange 25and a keeper ringZ to form an vannular Atrack vor'groove 21 of L- shapedycross-section. The ring 2l and the keeper ring 26 Aare secured inconcentric and axial alignment with the saddle by bolts 28 extendingthrough openingszll on the ange 1 and through aligning openings 3i) and3l in the respective ring members. yThe endsof the ring members 2l fareformed on lines tangent to the inner diameter of the saddle 2 asbestillustrated in Fig. 6'to form a slotted throat 32 to pass the pipe 3when the saddle is placed thereon.

Rotatably mounted in the L-shaped groove 21 is a ring gear 33 having aninner diameter adapted to engage the seat 23 and an inwardly extendingflange 34 interlocking with the ange 25 f the keeper ring 25 whereby thering gear is retained in guided relation with the track member forrotation about the axis of the pipe, as later described.

The ends 35 and 35 of the ring gear segment are spaced apart inconformity to the width of the throat 32 as illustrated in Fig. 6, thelength of the ring gear segment being such that when one end thereof ismoving across the throat the other end is retained in guiding relationwith the track member to assure that the opposite end is moving inalignment to re-enter the opposite end of the track member and due tothe fact that the ends are always spaced apart less distance than theinner diameter of the track, the ring will be retained thereon in allpositions about the periphery of the ring. Fixed to the segmental ringgear, midway the ends thereof, is an arm 31 for mounting the cuttingtorch 4. The arm includes a bracket 33 secured to the ring gear bysuitable fastening means such as screws 39. Mounted on the bracket 38and extending longitudinally of the pipe on the opposite side of thering gear 33 to the saddle 2 are pairs of vertically spaced angles 49-4land 42-43, said pairs of angles having upper and lower inwardly directedflanges 44 and 45 which cooperate to form tracks for engagement ofrollers 45 on a torch supporting carriage 41, later described. Therespective pairs of angles are spaced horizontally as at 48 to providean opening through which the torch is projected and the outer ends ofthe angles being preferably connected by a plate 49 to support the endsthereof and form a rigid arm for carrying the cutting torch. Thevertical spacing of the angles 4i), 4| and 42, 43 provide slots 59 inthe sides of the arm for accomodating outwardly dirccted portions of thecarriage 31, as later described.

The rollers 4S are preferably rotatably mounted on posts extendingthrough openings 52 in the carriage member 41 and are hfld in adjustedposition vby means of set-screws 53,` a pair of the posts 5| preferablyextending upwardly above the carriage 41 at each side thereof and a pairpreferably extending below the carriage at each side thereof to providetwo rollers 46 on each side of the carriage engaging the lower flanges45 of the arm and two rollers engaging the upper flanges 44 on each sideof the carriage, whereby said carriage may be supported for free rollingmovement throughout the length of the arm but heldv against vertical orlateral movement relative thereto.

Arranged in the carriage l41 and centrally 1ocated relative to thelaterally spaced angles of the arms is an opening 54 adapted to receivea torch supporting member 55, preferably including an upwardly extendingcollar` 55 slotted as at 51 and provided with bosses 58 to receive anadjusting screw 59 for tightening the collar 55 about the barrel 60 onthe torch. The torch supporting member 55 is preferably provided withtrunnions 6| and 62 adapted to be mounted in bearings 63 on the carriagewhereby the cutting torch is supported for angular adjustment relativeto a transverse plane through the pipe to permit a beveled edge to beformed on the cut edge of the pipe, said torch supporting member beingheld Cil in angular adjusted position by means of a setscrew 84. Thetorch carrying member is preferably provided with a bore 65substantially of the same shape as the cutting torch barrel, the lowerend of the bore 65 being curved, as at 66, to provide a seat for saidcutting torch and permit the nozzle end 61 of said torch to be projectedthrough the bore and in close proximity to the pipe to be cut.

Projecting outwardly from the side of the carriage 41 and through theopenings 50 are ears 63 adapted to receive one end of springs 69, havingtheir opposite ends attached to lugs 10 on bars 1| secured to the sidesof the pairs of vertically spaced angles forming the arm 31 wherebyspring tension is applied to the carriage 41 to draw same toward thegear. The end of the carriage 41 adjacent the ring gear is preferablyprovided with an extension 12 on which is mounted an upwardly extendingcollar 13 having a bore 14 therethrough for Aslidably receiving a shank15 of a follower 16, the lower end of said follower being provided witha roller 11 adapted to be in substantial engagement with the pipe to becut and held in such position by means of a setscrew 18 threaded into aboss 19 on the collar 13. I'he roller 11 preferably is provided with aflange 89 adapted to ride on the outer surface 8| of a templet 82 havinga guide edge 83 adapted to he engaged by the roller 11 to move the torchlongitudinally of the pipe as it is moved circumferentially thereof toprovide a cut in said pipe corresponding tothe shape of the templet. Aspring 84 preferably is provided around the shank 15 of the followerhaving one end engaged with the roller and the other end with thecarriage 41 to normally hold the roller in. engagement -with the templet82.

The templet is preferably formed of two semicircular sections 84 and 85hinged together, as at 85, whereby the sections may be hinged apart topermit application of said templet around the pipe 3, the open endsofthe respective portions of the templet being held together by means ofa screw 81 swivelly mounted in bosses 88, preferably on the lowerportion 85 of the templet, said screw being adapted to project through aslotted opening 89 in an ear 99 on the upper portion S4 of the templetand adapted to receive a wing-nut 9| for drawing the open ends of thetemplet together and holding same. In order to support the templet fromthe saddle 2 and hold said templet against rotation relative to thepipe, the upper portion 84 is preferably provided with an outwardlyextending ear 92 having an aperture 93 therein, through which a bolt 94may be extended to secure said templet to the rings 26 and 2| and saddle2, said bolt 94 passing through the respective plates in the same manneras the bolts 28.

The arm 31 is arranged at right angles to the ring gear segments and thefollower roller 11 held in engagement withthe templet face 8| by meansof the spring 59 so that when the ring gear segment is rotated about thetrack, the pipe is cut by the flame from the nozzle of the cutting torchas itis revolved around the pipe and simultaneously moved longitudinallythereof in accordance with the curvature of the guiding edge 83 of thetemplet.

, In order to rotate the ring gear segment, the ange 1 is provided withradial brackets 95 and 36, spaced apart a greater distance than thespacing between the ends of the ring gear and rotatably mounted thereinare shafts 91 and 88 carrying pinions QS-l G meshing with the ring gear,and sprockets ||J| and |92 that are operatively connected by a chainbelt |53. One of the shafts is provided with a gear |64 which is drivenby a pinion gear m iixedon a shaft |06 rotatably mounted in a bracketextension |01, the shaft |96 being manually rotated by means of a crankor the like |63. It is apparent that when the crank |08 is rotated thegear |05 drives the gear H14 to eiect rotation of the pinion 99 and thepinion IED through the sprocket and chain connection. Rotation of thepinion gears drives the ring gear to carry the cutting torch about theperiphery of the pipe to eiect a cut having an edge depending upon theangular adjustment of the cutting torch. Owing to the fact that the ringgear is guidingly supported by the track throughout its entire movementandthe track is securely anchored to the pipe, the out in the pipeformed by the cutting torch will be in a plane at right angles to theaxis of the pipe except where the templet guiding edge 83 is so shapedto move said cutting torch and carriage therefor longitudinally of thepipe to make a selected cut therein so that the cut end of the pipe canbe abutted against other pipe sections having suitable openings thereinto receive the pipe section on which the selected shape is cut.

The radial brackets 95 and 96 are preferably `braced by a link |09secured to ears thereon to provide a sturdy mounting for the gearrotating mechanism.

In using a cutting apparatus constructed and assembled as described, thenut 9| is loosened on the screw 81 whereby said screw may be hingedoutwardly away from the ear 90 to permit hinging of the lower portion oftheV templet away from the upper portion thereof which is secured to thesaddle 2 and segmental plates 26 and 2|, The retaining members I6 and I1are then released from the saddle to permit the saddle and templet to beapplied to the upper portion of a pipe and clamped thereon adjacent thepoint at which the cut is to be made, the spacing feet having beenadjusted to concentrically align the axis of the saddle with that of thepipe so that the ring gear 33 will be rotated about the axis of the pipewhen the cut is being made. .After the saddle has been adjusted to thesize of the pipe it is not again necessary to adjust the spacing feetunless it is desired to cut a pipe of different diameter, however, thetemplet must be changed according to the particular type of cut, i. e.,saddles, bevels, et cetera, that is desired to be made in the pipe. Whenthe saddle is applied to the pipe, the opening between the ends of thering gear will have to be aligned with the throat of the track to permitmounting of the saddle on the pipe, but when the ring gear is rotatedthe ends thereof will move in guided relation across the throat of thetrack and be retained by the track for rotation about the pipe.

The angularity of the cutting torch is adjusted in the carriage 41 sothe nozzle 5l of said cutting torch is directed to the proper angle tomake the desired bevel on the cut. The tension of the springs B9 holdsthe follower roller in engagement with the guiding edge 83 of thetemplet whereby rotation of the crank |08 effects a gradual planetationof the arm 31 about the pipe. The guiding edge 83 of the templet effectslongitudinal movement of the carriage 41 on thel rollers 46 in the trackformed by the angles of the arm 3l. The iiame from the cutting torchesburns through the wall of the pipe so that when said torch has made onecomplete revolution about the pipe the proper cut has been made thereon.After the cut has been made the ring gear is moved so that the endsthereof align with the sides of the throat in the track. The nut 8| isloosened to permit hinging of the lower portion of the templet away fromthe pipe and the toggle levers 3i! are released to permit removal of theretaining members |55 and from engagement with the saddle whereby thesaddle carrying the ring gear, torches and templet is lifted from thepipe completing the operation.

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a'cuttingapparatus which may be readily attached to a pipe without diassemblingthe ring gear or any part of the apparatus, and that due to the positivemounting of the templet and the reciprocal mounting of the torch, thecuts that arev produced in the pipes are smooth and regular and of theselected shapes for tting the end of the pipe to other pipes as in pipefabrication.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In a pipe cutting apparatus, segmental ring and track members havingends spaced apart to pass the members over a pipe to be cut, a saddlesupporting the track member, means on the saddle having engagement withthe pipe for positioning the axis of the track member concentric withthe axis of the pipe, clamping means Y for securing the saddle to thepipe, a pair of driving members supported in xed relation to the saddleand having driving contact with the segmental ring for moving the ringmember on the track member, means on the ring member for mounting aninstrument for movement longitudinally of the pipe, a templet about thepipe adapted to t against one side of said segmental track and providedwith a guiding edge, a templet follower operatively engaged with theinstrument and movable toward the pipe, a ange on the follower forengagement with the templet for limiting movement of said followertoward the pipe, and means for resiliently urging said templet followerto engage with the templet for controlling the cut of the pipe inaccordance with the shape of the templet.

2. In a pipe cutting apparatus, a ring-like driven member, means forsupporting the driven member for rotation coaxially of a pipe, meansfixed to the driven member for moving an instrument over the pipe,driving means for the driven member for rotating the driven member aboutthe axis of the pipe to effect planetation of the instrument movingmeans, acarrier slidable on the instrument moving means longitudinallyof the axis of the pipe, a templet carried by the drivenmember'supporting means and having a guiding edge encircling the pipecoaxially therewith, a roller movably mounted on the carrier forengaging the guiding edge of the templet, resilient means urging theroller toward the pipe, a ange on the roller for engaging the templetfor limiting the movement of the roller toward the pipe, and a springconnected with the carrier for urging the carrier in a direction toretain said roller in guided engagement with said guiding edge duringplanetation of the instrument moving means.

POSY A. HOWARD.

